Police release more details in double murder-suicide involving a former Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's deputy

Tuesday

Oct 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Melanie Powell and Ronald Larry Hydrick were killed after Taylor Powell chased and ran them off the road early Sunday morning, according to authorities.

By Stephanie TaylorStaff writer | The Tuscaloosa News

The woman killed in what investigators are calling a double murder-suicide had filed for divorce from her husband just three days before.

Melanie Powell and Ronald Hydrick were killed after Taylor Powell chased and ran them off the road early Sunday morning, according to authorities. The former Sheriff's deputy then shot himself in the head, they said.

Court records indicate that Melanie Powell had filed for a divorce from her husband of more than 24 years on Thursday.

Taylor Powell, 52, went to Ronald Hydrick's home on Cypress Road just after midnight Sunday. Powell's wife, Melanie Powell, 51, and Hydrick, 53, were sitting outside when the three were involved in a confrontation, said Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit Commander Sgt. Dale Phillips.

While investigators can't be sure about what transpired since all parties are deceased, they believe Taylor Powell chased his wife and Hydrick for about a mile and a half before Hydrick crashed his Ford pickup truck at the bottom of a wooded ravine off Sylvan Loop Road.

"The vehicle went into a roll and slammed into a tree at a high rate of speed causing tremendous damage," Phillips said.

Taylor Powell looked down and saw that they were dead before shooting himself in the head with his revolver, Phillips said.

Investigators were originally called to the scene after receiving a 911 from a passing motorist about an apparent traffic accident. None of the parties involved called 911 at any point.

Taylor Powell worked as a Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's deputy from the late 1980s until leaving for a job at Mercedes in 1997. Powell worked in the department's patrol division for most of his law enforcement career, and left on good terms, Phillips said.

Some of the department veterans remained friends with Taylor Powell.

"They're all in shock that he would do something like this," Phillips said.

Phillips doesn't believe that Taylor Powell knew Hydrick.

The Powells had two grown daughters and children from other relationships. Hydrick, who was not married, also had children, Phillips said.

Investigators waited to disclose the identities of the suspect and victims until Monday so they could notify the extended families.

Investigators with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences were conducting tests Monday morning to determine whether alcohol was involved. All three had likely been drinking Saturday night, Phillips said, but he isn't sure to what extent or if it was a factor.

"There's no way to say whether he intended to harm these people," Phillips said. "His actions did indicate that it was more than just 'I'm going to follow them and see where they're going.' I believe that his actions were violent in nature. They were reckless, which would have been reason to charge him with murder had he lived."

Investigators believe Taylor Powell fired at least two shots at Hydrick's truck during the pursuit, which lasted less than five minutes. One bullet hole was discovered in the passenger door and investigators believe that shot was fired as both drivers made a U-turn in a church parking lot. Taylor Powell is believed to have fired a second shot shortly before the crash.

Investigators will likely search both trucks on Tuesday, Phillips said. They will turn the results of their investigation over to the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office.

It's an unusual case, Phillips said, because investigators aren't pressured to make an arrest or find out information before leads dry up.

"We're just trying to help these families as much as possible," he said. "There are a lot of questions, and we're working to answer those questions.